Electrical disconnect device



July 13, 1965 McLA|N 3,195,097

ELECTRICAL DISCONNECT DEVICE Filed July 16, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

July 13, 1965 McLAlN 3,195,097

ELECTRICAL DISCONNECT DEVICE Filed July 16, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a7 Z8 Z9 38 United States Patent 3,195fi97 Patented July 13, 1965 3,195,097 ELEQTRECAL DESCONNECT DEVEQE George Melanin, San Jose, Calif., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed July 16, 1963, Ser. No. 295,571 1 Claim. (Cl. 339-45) This invention relates to a squib-actuated electrical disconnect device.

One object of the invention is to provide an electrical disconnect device wherein mechanical means are used for positively separating electrical connectors.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical disconnect device which is more reliable than prior art devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical disconnect device which will provide a straight line separation of the female plug from the male plug.

A further object of the invention is to provide a squibactuated electrical disconnect device wherein the disconnect device is left undamaged after separation.

T hese and other objects will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken with the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an electrical disconnect device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 along the line 2-2 with the lock wires shown in full.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1 with the electrical squibs omitted.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 with the plug members shown in full.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the plug body support member of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 after separation of the electrical connectors.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings reference number It] refers to an electrical disconnect device having a plug body support member 11, an ejector operator housing member 12, and a substantially U- shaped ejector member 13.

The ejector member 13 has two elongated slide members 16 and 17, shown in FIG. 2, each having a U-shaped notch 18 therein. The elongated slide members 16 and 17 are flared at the bottom portion 20 and fit into elongated slots 21 and 22 in the base 23 of the plug body support member 11 as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 a piston member 25 located within a cylindrical chamber 26 is secured to ejector member 13 by means of a screw 27. The chamber 26 is sealed by means of a threaded plug 28 and seal 29. An O-ring 30 is located in an annular groove 31 on the piston 25. Two internally threaded chambers 33 and 34 adapted to receive electrically operated squibs 35 and 36 are located in the ejector operator housing 12. Communicating passages 37 and 38 are provided between the chambers 33, 34 and the cylindrical chamber 26. A male plug 40 is secured to the base 23 by means of bolts 41. The female plug 42 is secured to a plate member 43 by means of bolts 44.

The ejector member 13 abuts against the plate 43. The male plug 40 is retained in electrical engagement with the female plug 42 by means of lock wires 46 and 47. Electrical connector cables shown schematically at 50 and 51 provide electrical leads to the male plug and are connected to the plug body support 11 by means of brackets 52 and 53. However, this forms no part of the invention. Also the leads for the female plug are not shown since they form no part of the invention.

In the operation of the device of the invention the male plug 48 is held in engagement with the female plug 42 by means of lock wires 46 and 47. When it is desired to separate the male and female plugs the squib-s 35 and 36 are fired. The expanding gas enters cylindrical chamber 26 through passages 37 and 38, thu causing the piston to move the ejector member to the position shown in FIG. 6. This breaks the wires 46 and 47 and separates the female plug 42 from the male plug 40 without damaging the disconnect device.

There is thus provided a squib-actuated electrical disconnect device which provides positive mechanical means for straight line separation of electrical connectors which is more reliable than prior art devices.

While a certain specific embodiment has been described in detail, it is obvious that numerous changes may be made without departing from the general principles and scope of the invention.

I claim:

An explosively energized mechanically operated electrical disconnect device comprising: a plug body support member; a first means on said plug body support member for holding a first plug; a second means adjacent said plug body support member for holding a second matching plug member; a pair of lock wires for securing said first plug holding means to said second plug holding means to thereby retain said first plug and said matching plug in electrical engagement; an ejector housing member attached to said plug body support member; a cylindrical chamber within said ejector housing member; a piston within said cylindrical chamber; an ejector member having two elongated side members and a cross member interconnecting said side members to thereby provide a substantially U-shaped member; said elongated side members being flared at the end remote from said cross member; said flared end being located in abutting relation to said second plug holding means; means for attaching said cross member to said piston; means, within said ejector housing member, for holding an electrically operated explosive squib and a communicating passage between said squib holding means and said cylindrical chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,489,984 ll/49 Shoemaker. 2,688,734 9/54 Welling 339-45 2,847,652 8/58 Kokalas 339-45 3,009,730 11/61 Gantschnigg et a1. 89-1 X FOREIGN PATENTS 635,056 1/62 Canada.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner. JOSEPH D. SEERS, Examiner. 

